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Why fly business when you can drive business? The Volvo S90 makes a strong case for choosing the road over the airport, especially when it comes to short haul flights.

Published On Jan 19, 2023 05:42:00 PM

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The Volvo S90 cuts a fine figure against the striking architecture of the Sawai Man Mahal in Jaipur.

Over the past few months, we’ve all seen the countless news stories that have been coming in about the congestion at major airports in the country, especially Delhi and, to some extent, Mumbai. Passengers missing flights, airport staff stretched thin, airlines issuing passenger advisories, queues so long you must show up nearly four hours ahead of schedule… the list is endless. Doesn’t matter if you usually fly business, like our man, former lawyer, auto buff and popular digital content creator Abhinav Mathur – it’s all still a huge mess.

Now, there’s no denying that air travel is the fastest in terms of outright speed of the aircraft. No car can ever compete with an A380 when it comes to intercontinental travel. But what about short haul flights, like, say, from Delhi to Jaipur? Or Bengaluru to Chennai? Or Delhi to Chandigarh? Think about it. Let’s assume you stay in Gurugram, like Mathur does, and are off to a dear friend’s extended wedding celebrations at the grand Sawai Man Mahal, in Jaipur, like Mathur is. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the airport from Gurugram to catch a flight for which the reporting time these days is about 3 hours.

The S90’s striking front grille with vertical chrome slats.

Add another hour or so for boarding and security-related formalities, an hour of flight time, and then another 40-odd minutes for deboarding and getting to his eventual destination, and Mathur would have already spent an unreasonable amount of time travelling between two cities. But what if he could drive to Jaipur from Delhi in around 4.5 hours, and in a car that is luxurious, quick, safe, and involving. Like the Volvo S90. That’s exactly what Mathur did recently, and in doing so, helped establish the clear advantage the S90 delivers. How? Let’s take a look.

Game of Thrones

Seat ventilation, tenpoint massage; Nappa leather: Beats business class anyday.

The S90 is designed to deliver the same (maybe even better) amounts of luxury as a business class seat and the entire flight experience. The Nappa leather seats with options for heating and ventilation, as well as a massage function with ten massage points, five programs, three speeds and three intensities to choose from, envelop you in a kind of luxury that no business class seat can match. Clearly, airlines have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to the luxury experience. Then, there is the Google suite of apps that have been fully integrated into the S90’s state-of-the-art infotainment package.

With integrated Google Maps and hands-free Google Assistant, reaching your destination is never a hassle.

Ask Google anything about everything and you will get a quick response. Weather updates, navigation assistance, music, you name it! And all this is delivered through the top-of-the-line Bowers & Wilkins sound system that delivers breathtaking acoustics through 19 high-fidelity speakers placed all through the cabin. The system even mimics the acoustics of several specific rooms like a Jazz Club or a Concert Hall to tailor the sound experience to your liking. Imagine driving on a lovely stretch of tarmac, chasing a blue horizon, listening to Diljit Dosanjh or Post Malone, and you’ll know exactly what we mean.

The S90’s Bowers & Wilkins sound system’s 19 high fidelity speakers delivers a concert hall experience.

All of this is further enhanced by the cabin that uses soft-touch leather and wood surfaces; a fully interactive touchscreen driver infotainment package with a 9.0-inch display and a 12-inch driver information screen; and is also equipped with an advanced air purifier that prevents up to 95 percent of hazardous PM 2.5 particles from entering the cabin. What’s more, the S90 even gets a handcrafted crystal gear shifter made by world renowned crystal brand Orrefors.

Handcrafted gear shifter is made exclusively for Volvo by world reknowned crystal brand Orrefors.

Inching closer to first class territory now, aren’t we? Plus, if you are a clotheshorse like Mathur, especially one who is off for a three-day wedding, the S90’s commodious boot does an excellent job of accommodating suitcases and duffel bags full of shoes, Nehru jackets, and kurtas. (Mathur was also especially glad that he didn’t have to fold his tuxedo unlike in Business Class, thanks to the S90’s coat hanger.)

The S90’s commodious boot can swallow several suitcases and overnighters, which is just perfect when you’re off for an extended wedding.

Luxury isn’t the only trick up the S90’s sleeve. Being a Volvo, its pièce de resistance remains the technology it comes equipped with. It goes without saying that the S90 is one of the safest cars you can buy. Tech like dual-stage airbags, side inflatable curtains, side impact protection systems, whiplash prevention systems and a whole host of other tech, combined with driver assistance systems like adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance systems, lane assist, blind spot assist, etc., make sure you’re enclosed within a cocoon of safety unlike any other automobile. But the best part is, this cocoon can really hustle when the occasion calls for it.

Fast Perfect

The S90 uses Volvo’s B5 mild-hybrid powertrain mated to the Geartronic 8-speed gearbox. With 250 horsepower and 350Nm of torque, it can hit 100kph in 6.9 seconds. This makes covering large distances a breeze. Mathur echoed auto experts when he said that the S90’s mild-hybrid 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine delivers smooth take-offs and refined acceleration. “It makes driving so effortless and involving at the same time.

The S90’s mild hybrid 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine delivers smooth takeoffs and refined acceleration.

I love watching the revs build up all the way to its 7,000rpm redline,” he said. The capable engine and gearbox combo allows for easy overtakes and great cruising capabilities on the highway. And with the chassis playing the ultimate supporting role to the engine, the entire package delivers whatever you demand of it – hustle or elegance.

The combination of luxurious insides and capable engineering makes the S90 a mile muncher like no other. And, not surprisingly, Mathur arrived at his destination fresh and with time to spare, all while saving a bunch of fuel, thanks to the S90’s hybrid engine. “The S90 is the ultimate low-pulse-rate car. Whether you are driving or seated at the back, you get to your destination fresh as a filly,” he exclaimed, as he changed into his tux and got ready for the big night.

Striking, enduring, and iconic: The S90’s ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights.

And not to forget, all of this is wrapped into one of the best-looking packages around. There is no mistaking the S90 for anything else out on the road. The design itself is striking with the strong front grille and LED headlights and is always a head turner no matter where you go. The S90 cut a fine figure parked in the lobby of the elegant Sawai Man Mahal, complementing, in a way, the expressive architecture of the Taj Hotels property.

Delhi to Jaipur in no time, and all set for the big night.

If ever there was a case to ditch that airplane ticket and drive yourself instead it is this. Mathur agrees, too. “Not only was my overall journey shorter, it was also more personalised and to my convenience. I could leave on my own schedule, enjoy the cabin at the temperature I like, listen to my choice of music, take a break when I needed to and have fun driving. But it’s not only that, I’ve actually done it cheaper than the business class ticket.” If you’re looking for a moral in this story, it’s quite a simple one: why fly business when you can drive business!

Location courtesy: Sawai Man Mahal, Jaipur

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